Badge to the Bone

19/07/2024

Well…

12/07/2024

Please support our good friend and one of the best broadcasters in the country as he competes once again for Best Afternoon Radio Program in Richmond. It’s certainly well deserved.

Note…You can vote everyday.

https://www.facebook.com/share/rAGox7iS4BQGMPVb/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Jeff Katz is an award winning media personality. He is an award winning columnist and talk show host. Listen on Newsradio WRVA 96.1 FM and 1140 AM or at radio.com

08/07/2024

So, episode 12 marks the official end of our third season. Denny and I will be taking a few weeks off from recording to enjoy the rest of the summer. We are actively planning for season 4, which we hope will be our best season yet complete with both new and returning guests. If you have someone or something you would like us to cover, please reach out. We love hearing from you.

Season 4 will include a couple big upcoming events in the early fall. We will be presenting at the 2024 Virginia DCJS First Responder Wellness Conference in Norfolk and we are a participating organization at the second annual VALE Foundation First Responder Wellness Fair in Hanover Va. Both events are in September so please come out and see us. Links below.

This show has been a labor of love for the both of us. A chance not only to try to help others but to work through our own issues in a positive way. We continue to grow and learn in the doing. We are eternally grateful to all of you that have listened, liked / followed our pages, shared our show or simply given us a kind word of support and encouragement. It truly means the world to us.

With that we’d like to give special mention to some individuals and organizations that provided notable, on-going support, opportunities and encouragement both behind the scenes and on-air. Folks who have not only tirelessly supported our show but also lifted us up when we needed it most.

Our wives and families!

Greg Podolak – Clinician – Halfwild Counseling - Hanover Va.
Kari Magner – Former EOC Dispatcher – Lucky Paw Foundation
Jeff Katz – WRVA Radio
Kevin (Thor), Rick (Straps) and the members of the Virginia Chapter of Hired Guns MC
Dr. Jack Tramell – Professor / Chair of Sociology, Criminal Justice and Human Services – Mount St. Mary’s University
Willie and the guys at Brews Brothers
VALE Foundation
Chris Scuderi, Public Safety and Law Enforcement Training Coordinator - Va. DCJS
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
Steve Neal – Author, Speaker and Retired Police Captain – “Toxic Boss Blues”

Thank you all. May God bless all of you.

-Al

29/06/2024

There has been a lot of talk in our profession about the warrior verses guardian models. We’ve maintained that there’s a lot you can be said for the warrior model and this is a particularly good perspective.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/VygKHxyWyzF7xsCw/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who cannot provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity. —Sitting Bull (c. 1831 - 1890), Hunkpapa Sioux

26/06/2024

As a recently retired LEO I can say I heard four of these over the course of my career with variations on two others from this list. We MUST do better.

For those of you that are or were on the job how many have you heard?

-Al

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/31/former-google-recruiter-if-your-boss-uses-any-of-these-toxic-phrases-it-may-be-time-to-quit-your-job.html?utm_content=Intl&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=facebook%7CIntl&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2S-VsQstETq_88CexHBs8OGj8-MVVOwtUQZWo-W9Tc1XfqR-l5P_rr4u0_aem_s1tlhKuz-Wa176v-MbfsBA

Thinking about quitting your job? It may be the right move if you boss uses any of these toxic "red flag" phrases, says former Google recruiter Nolan Church.

28/05/2024

I accidentally stumbled across this the other day and gave it a listen. Was not familiar with Kelsi Sheren, her story or her work but she has powerful story. While focused on combat vets much of it applies equally to LE.

Listen all the way to the end when there is some discussion about Canada’s MAID program. Terrifying.

-Al

💥Join us on our Journey to 1 Million Subscribers💥Kelsi Sheren is a Canadian military veteran who served as an artillery gunner in Afghanistan when she was ...

19/05/2024

Thank you VALE Foundation for hosting this event. We had an wonderful day! It was an honor to be a part of it. Some of the interactions we had today go beyond words.

Law enforcement agencies across Virginia, from the federal level to the local level, are facing staffing shortages.

19/05/2024

Out here and set up at the VALE Foundation Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Already an amazing time.

16/05/2024

S3, Episode 9 - The Brews Brothers

A local officer Will joins Badge to the Bone on location and talks about his experiences and the negative impacts that followed. Will provides encouragement with his resilience and his proactive efforts to help other first responders and military service members.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pGCEIdD3a48nRPbm27ceG?si=2IAXPXStRE6aHto43cqFcw

15/05/2024

Big thank you to our friend and one of the best advocates for cops you'll ever find, Jeff Katz, who graciously had us back on his show this afternoon. We talked about the alarming number of LEO su***des, how to prevent them and the need to recognize these souls among our fallen.

If you're not in the central Virginia area, "The Jeff Katz Show" is on WVRA weekdays from 3PM to 6PM and is available anywhere through the Audacy app.

15/05/2024

To the brave men and women who serve and often do a thankless job....Stay in the fight! We need you now more than ever!

14/05/2024

Along with honoring all our brothers and sisters from around the nation who have made the ultimate sacrifice we want to remember the 549 officers from our home state of Virginia.

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” - Proverbs 28:1

Browse by state to view law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty nationwide.

14/05/2024

As we remember our fallen during National Police Week it's vital that also remember those who fell by their own hand. Their names are not placed on the wall and frankly it's not something many on the job want to talk about. In many of these incidents they too are casualties of the job and unlike a confrontation with an armed criminal we like to think su***de is an entirely avoidable (preventable) threat.

These are a stats we compiled from Officer Down Memorial Page (odmp.org) and First Help (1sthelp.org) as of the end of last. The impact of su***de, especially when you factor out line of duty medical deaths (heart attacks, strokes) is nothing short of alarming.

We need to do more. We need to do better.

13/05/2024

Please join us in remembering all of our fallen during National Law Enforcement Memorial Week. Tonight memorial will broadcast the 36th annual candlelight vigil where we honor all of those whose names will added to the wall this year.

"In valor there is hope."

Each year, the names of officers killed in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. Th...

02/05/2024

Season 3 - Special Edition Episode: Mount St. Mary's University Visit

Last week Denny and I were invited to present at Mount St. Mary's University in Maryland. We spoke with several criminal justice and human services classes and gave our "It's Time We Talk" presentation to the students. We capped the day with a special recording with a handful of students and faculty from the school. It was a long day but more importantly it was an incredibly positive experience. The students and faculty alike treated us like visiting VIPs. Despite our frequent cynicism Denny and I left the school feeling like there really are some young people out there ready and willing to pick up the torch and serve.

A big thank you the outstanding students and faculty at the university and special thanks to my good friend and Chair of Sociology, Criminal Justice and Human Services, Dr. John "Jack" Trammell for the invite.

-Al

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4rPoAaeaXFKr2MyaIWj1F4?si=fE98b6WDQTuzwx7qBhta7Q

01/05/2024

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

30/04/2024

Season 3, Episode 8 - Go Out In Style

Former Tacoma, WA police officer and co-founder of Plant Your Flag (a life coaching company for LE and military) Rob Hollingsworth discusses a shameful and malicious prosecution of two Tacoma officers driven by political expediency that prompted his transition out of law enforcement. Rob also discusses much needed support for LEO's transitioning out of law enforcement and that there is life after service.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/45jY6x26OOy3wRjX33VjGw?si=ChGFOF65St2kufzo7hhm_A

30/04/2024

From a friend...

"Reports from Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC, that 8 law enforcement officers have just been shot, including a Deputy US Marshal and 2 police officers killed. 4 of the officers shot are from CMPD, the others were from USMS and other agencies.
An average of 33 officers per month have been shot so far this year. Over 120 so far and we’re only in April.
Anti-police rhetoric and violence have been encouraged by some politicians and activists, especially since 2014, and escalating even more post-2020. Now we reap the results of that sanctioned assault on law enforcement.
No other profession would tolerate this. Don’t tell me “well, they signed up for it”; no, police didn’t sign up to be killed any more than a truck driver signs up to die in a highway crash, or a nurse signs up to contract an incurable disease by a needle stick. If we had SCORES of teachers or firefighters, or nurses. or trash collectors, or any other public employees shot every year, the country would be up in arms. Police deserve no less outrage, and, more importantly, deserve public support if they expect people to continue to risk their lives dealing with the ugly side of society that the “civil” part of society pretends doesn’t exist.
I’m tired of this. Stop killing police!"

17/04/2024

Season 3, Episode 7 - Start the Conversation

Danny C**n, retired Sergeant from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office and author joins Badge to the Bone to talk about his efforts on bringing the conversation on LE su***de to the forefront. After 30-years of service Danny has been inspired to dedicate his efforts towards making a difference in the number of law enforcement su***des. Danny is also the author of a book called Broken, Understanding the Effects of Post Traumatic Stress.